Golf swing training device

Abstract

The golf swing training device provides tactile feedback to golf players practicing their swings. The golf swing trainer provides a first, generally horizontal guide arm positioned at a height above the ground so that in the lower portion of the arc of a proper golf swing, the head of the golf club will pass below the first guide arm without making contact with the arm. When the arc of the golf swing deviates from the ideal arc, the golf club will strike a portion of the first guide arm, providing tactile feedback that the swing was improper. A second guide perpendicular to the first guide may be provided. The angle of the second guide may be adjusted to match the plane of the swing during a proper golf stroke. The second guide will be struck by golf club swung with an improper shaft angle, providing tactile feedback to the golfer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/726,235, filed Oct. 14, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sports training equipment, and more particularly to a golf swing training device intended to teach a proper method of swinging a golf club.

2. Description of the Related Art

Golf is a popular sport played by amateurs and professionals. Avid golfers typically carry a set of golf clubs in a carrying bag or golf bag. Each golf club in the set is adapted for use in a relatively narrow variety of situations and lies that might be encountered while playing golf on a golf course. For example, a golfer may carry an assortment of clubs called woods, which are primarily designed for long distance shots, an assorted of clubs called irons for playing shots of intermediate to short distances, and specialty clubs adapted for particular situations. The specialty clubs may include a putter for use on the greens or a sand wedge for playing the ball in sandy areas, such as in a sand trap. Most avid players find that playing golf well is relaxing and enjoyable, while playing golf poorly is a frustrating and less pleasurable experience.

An important part of mastering the game of golf is learning how to properly swing each of the golf clubs. Developing a proper swing technique requires repetitive practice so that the golfer develops a feel for a proper swing. It is important that the elements of the golfer's swing be performed correctly during practice so that the “feel” developed during practice be correlated with a proper swing, rather than a faulty swing. The player then seeks to generate the same “feel” when playing an actual game of golf.

The elements of a proper swing include swinging the club so that the club head travels in the proper arc during the upswing and on the downswing, and holding the club at a proper angle during the swing. Swinging the club head in the proper swing arc insures that a struck golf ball flies in the desired direction and path. With an improper arc the golfer may produce a golf shot with an uncontrolled hook or slice, causing the ball to travel in an unintended direction.

Watching the flight of the golf ball after striking the ball provides visual feedback to the golfer as to whether his golf swing is proper, but the feedback is not specific to a particular facet of the swing. An improper flight may result from an improper stance while striking the golf ball, from holding the club at an improper angle, from an improper swing plane, and/or from a number of other causes. Without specific feedback, a golfer may not be able to make the proper correction to his swing technique.

Striking a golf ball requires the golfer to focus visually on the ball, using hand-eye coordination to direct the club at the ball. Because the focus of the golfer is fixed exclusively on the ball, the golfer cannot readily observe the plane of his golf swing or the angle of his golf club while striking a golf ball.

A golfer might employ a second person, such as a golf-teaching professional, to observe his swing and to provide feedback on any detected improper swing elements. While the feedback from an observer would allow the golfer to practice the correct swing, employing a golf teaching professional may be expensive, since the professional expects to be paid for his time. The golfer may also wish to schedule his practice around his or her own free time, which may be incompatible with the availability of a teaching professional.

A training device that detects an improper swing and provides tactile feedback to the golfer would allow the golfer to understand when his swing is improper without distracting the golfer's vision from the golf ball during the swing. A device that is adjustable for practicing the swing arcs and swing planes for swinging different clubs would allow the golfer to practice his swing using any of the clubs he carries. The training device might be adjusted based on a teaching professional's advice, but once adjusted, no further interaction with the professional would be needed, thus allowing flexible and cost effective practice sessions. Further, a training device that could be compactly folded would allow the device to be stored in a golf bag for easy transport to a golf course, driving range or other practice facility.

Thus, a golf swing training device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The golf swing training device provides tactile feedback to golfers practicing their swings. The golf swing training device, also referred to herein as a “swing trainer,” provides a first, generally horizontal (but angularly adjustable) guide arm positioned at a height above the ground so that in the lower portion of the arc of a proper golf swing, the head of the golf club will pass below the first guide arm without making contact with the arm. When the arc of the golf swing deviates from the ideal arc, the golf club will strike a portion of the first guide arm, providing tactile feedback that the swing was improper. A second guide perpendicular to the first guide may be provided. The angle of the second guide may be adjusted to a desired angle with the ground, corresponding to the angle of the plane of the swing arc as the golfer swings the club. The second guide is positioned so that it will be struck if the angle of the shaft of the golf club is improper during the swing.

The arc swing guides are covered with a resilient material, such as open- or closed-cell plastic foam, foam rubber, or the like that partially absorbs the shock of an impact with a golf club. Absorbing some of the energy from the collision with the golf club reduces the transmission of shock to the golfer.

The arc swing guide arm is releasably attached to the frame of the swing training device so that additional energy from an impact from a golf club is dissipated in releasing the guide arm from the frame, thus reducing the possibility of damaging the swing trainer. The arc swing guide arm is tethered to the swing trainer so that the guide arm does not end up a distance away from the swing trainer when struck by a golf club.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a golf swing training device according to the present invention as seen from above, showing the arcuate swing path of a golf club head with the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf swing training device, showing the resilient attachment of the first and second guide arms thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a golf swing training device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a golf swing training device according to the present invention, with a curved swing arc training arm.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a golf swing training device according to the present invention, having a magnetic latch.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a golf swing training device according to the present invention, referred to generally as 20 in the drawings. FIGS. 3 and 4 describe a second embodiment of a golf swing training device according to the present invention, referred to generally as 70 in the drawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the use of the golf swing training device 20 may be understood. The golf swing trainer includes two swing guide arms 36 and 48. The first arm 36 is disposed generally horizontally, but is adjustably secured to the remainder of the device 20. The first arm 36 provides a training guide for verifying a correct swing arc. Cylindrical padded sleeves 38 and 40 may be installed respectively over the first and second arms 36 and 48. Preferably the sleeves 38 and 40 are made of a resilient material, such as open- or closed-cell foam plastic, foam rubber, etc., so that impacts between the swung golf club G and the guides do not result in pain or injury to the golfer or to damage to the swing trainer 20.

In use the height and position of the first swing guide arm 36 is positioned so that the lower edge of the first swing guide arm 36 is aligned just above the proper swing arc S for the golfer. When a golfer attempts to swing a golf club G underneath the first swing guide arm 36, deviation from the proper swing arc S will cause the head or other portion of the club to strike the first swing guide arm 36, or its padded cover 38, providing tactile feedback to the golfer of an improper swing.

The second arm 48, which is attached to the first arm via a 90° elbow 44, is provided as an aid for verifying that the angle of the shaft of the golf club G during a swing is proper. The angle B of the second arm 48 with the ground is adjusted to match the optimum club shaft angle A for obtaining a proper stroke. Because this angle A may vary depending on the height and stance of a particular golfer and on the specific club G, the angle B is adjustable as described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf swing training device 20 includes a base for supporting the training device on a supporting surface, such as the ground. The base comprises a holding body 22 adapted to hold two horizontal support legs 24, disposed normal to one another. The support legs 24 are cylindrically-shaped and made of a rigid material. For example, the legs 24 may be constructed of schedule-40 or schedule-80 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping. The legs 24 may have a hollow interior, with the interior being filled with ballast, such as sand or lead shot, to provide stability and support for the upper portions of the apparatus. Alternatively, the legs 24 and holding base 22 may be made of a sufficiently heavy material for providing the required stability and support to the swing trainer components during use. The legs 24 are removably journaled into the base holding body 22, allowing the legs to be removed for storing or transporting the golf swing training device 20. The legs 24 may be attached by any removable means. For example, the legs 24 may thread into thread receiving joints in the base holding body 22.

A first guide arm support post 26 has a lower end pivotally affixed to the base 22, and extends upwardly therefrom. The support post 26 may comprise a pipe elbow or other suitable structure or component. An intermediate strut extends from the top of the support post 26, the intermediate strut comprising two portions 27a and 27b, which may rotate relative to one another. An elongate bolt or other means may extend coaxially through the strut portions 27a and 27b to hold them frictionally together so that their relative rotational positions remain as desired after being set. A 90° pipe elbow 28 is attached to the end of strut component 27b. A second guide arm support post 30 extends from pipe elbow 28 at the end of the second end portion 27b of the intermediate strut assembly. A guide arm attachment strut 32 has a first end 42 pivotally secured to the upper end of the second support post 30, and an opposite second end 34. The second end 34 comprises a fitting to which the golf club swing guide arm assembly, comprising the first and second arms 36 and 48, is attached.

The relatively rotating components 27a and 27b of the intermediate strut assembly allow the support post 30 and all structure extending therefrom to rotate about the axis of the intermediate strut, i.e., about an axis that is defined by components 27a and 27b and that is substantially parallel to the ground so that attachment strut 32 describes a horizontally oriented cylindrical arc when the device is rotated around intermediate strut components 27a, 27b, as indicated by the rotational directional arrow R in FIG. 2. This allows the height of the guide arm attachment strut 32, and thus the guide arms 36 and 48, to be adjusted relative to the underlying surface to provide more or less room for the passage of the head of the golf club therebeneath, since the second end 34 of attachment strut 32 describes a circle in a vertical plane as intermediate strut 27a, 27b is rotated. Thus, greater or less precision may be required of the golfer using the present device, as desired.

The guide arm attachment strut 32 is rotatably attached at its first end 42 to the upper end of the second guide arm support post 30. The rotatable attachment of the guide arm attachment strut 32 allows the angle relative to the ground of the first and second guide arms 36 and 48 supported by the guide arm attachment strut 32 to be adjusted.

Details of the method of supporting guide arms 48 and 36 from the guide arm attachment strut 32 may be appreciated by referring to FIG. 2. The first arm 36 is supported by the strut 32 via an open journal joint or semicircular bracket attached to the second or distal end 34 of the strut 32. The first arm 36 is held against the open journal by tensioning of an elastic cord 50, such as a bungee cord, inside of the strut 32. This elastic attachment means allows the first arm 36, and its attached second arm 48, to be pulled out of the open journal joint to allow the first arm 36 to be reversed for use by both left-handed and right handed golfers. The elastic attachment arrangement also provides a degree of resilience to absorb shock when one of the guide arms 36 or 48 is struck by a golfer's club during a swing. One end of the elastic cord 50 is attached to the first arm 36, while the opposite end is attached to a member of the swing trainer frame, such as to the elbow at first end 42 of attachment strut 42. Alternatively, the cord 50 may be extended through the elbow or strut first end 42 to terminate at the lower end of the second support post 30, thus concealing the anchor knot or end which would otherwise be visible extending from the elbow or strut first end 42.

An alternate embodiment of a golf swing training device 70 in accordance with the current invention may be understood by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. The base and support members for the golf swing training device 20, including the base holding body 22, legs 24, first support post 26, pipe elbow 28, second support post 30, pivoting strut or post ends or joints 27a, 27b, and 42, and the guide arm attachment strut 32, are structurally and functionally identical to that of the first embodiment described above and shown in FIG. 1 and 2.

The guide of the second embodiment of the golf swing trainer device 70 comprises a single guide arm 60. A padded sleeve 64 may be slid over an end of the single guide arm 60, as shown in FIG. 3, or a pair of sleeves 64 and 76 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 4, with each sleeve 64, 76 slidably disposed over the opposite first and second ends of the horizontal guide arm 60. When a single swing guide 60 is provided, as shown in FIG. 3, a removable cap 62 may be placed over the unused end of the guide arm 60.

The golf swing training device 70, provided with only horizontal swing arc guides, allows the golfer to rehearse the proper arc for a golf swing, receiving tactile feedback when the arc is improper and the golf club strikes a swing guide. As shown in FIG. 4, a swing arc guide 60 may be straight or may be curved to follow the arc of a perfect golf swing. The use of an elongate swing arc guide 60 having opposite first and second end portions allows verification that the head of the golf club is following the proper swing curve over an extended portion of a golfer's swing.

Referring to FIG. 4, the use of the embodiment of the golf swing training device 70 will be described. The swing trainer 70 is shown as used by a right-handed golfer. The golfer's ideal down swing would pass first underneath the curved swing arc guide sleeve 76, then under the straight swing arc guide 64 and would exit the guide path of the trainer at an unattached end of the straight swing arc guide sleeve 64. A tassel 74 is attached to the end of the guide and hangs into the path of the golfer's swing under the swing arc guides. A properly swung club will strike the tassel 74, providing tactile feedback to the golfer that the head of the golf club followed the proper swing.

An alternative means of supporting the swing arc guide arm 60 may be appreciated by referring to FIG. 5. A length of cord 80 acts as a tether to prevent the guide arm 60 from flying away from the swing trainer if struck during a golf swing. The guide arm 60 is held within the open journal joint at second end 34 of attachment strut 32 with a releasable latch. The releasable latch comprises a ferrous plate 84 attached to the surface of the open journal joint. A magnet 86 mounted in the interior of the guide arm 60 holds the guide arm 60 in position by magnetic attraction to the ferrous plate 84. The tethering cord 80 is attached to the structure of the swing trainer. The tethering cord 80 may be secured to the trainer using a releasable fastener, such as a knot 82, allowing the guide arm 60 to be removed and replaced if damaged, or if an alternate guide arm system, such as the guide system depicted in FIG. 1 and 2, is used.

An alternative releasable latch may be used in place of the magnetic plate and magnet arrangement. For example, the open journal joint at second end 34 may engage the horizontal arm 60 with a releasable friction fit. Another alternative extends the cord 80 through the center of the end elbow 42 to be secured at the bottom end of the column 30, thereby concealing the securing knot 82. The described embodiment details a number of components as being releasably or removably attached to allow for a compact arrangement for storage or transport. In an alternative embodiment, any of these component attachments may be fixedly attached.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A golf swing training device, comprising:

a base adapted for ground mounting;

a first guide arm support post having a lower end fixed to the base and an upper end opposite the lower end, the upper end being normal to the lower end;

an intermediate strut having a first end portion fixed to the upper end of the first guide arm support post and a rotatable second end portion extending from the first end portion thereof, the intermediate strut extending parallel to the base;

a second guide arm support post attached to the second end portion of the intermediate strut;

a guide arm attachment strut having a first end pivotally attached to the second guide arm support post and a second end opposite the first end, the guide arm attachment strut extending normal to the second guide arm support post; and

a golf club swing guide arm assembly extending from the second end of the guide arm attachment strut;

wherein said second guide arm support post is rotatable with the second end portion of the intermediate strut in order to adjust the height of the swing guide arm assembly above the ground.

2. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the golf club swing guide arm assembly comprises a swing guide arm pivotally attached to said attachment strut and a swing plane arm disposed normal to the swing guide arm.

3. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the golf club swing guide arm assembly includes a curved first swing guide arm end and a straight second swing guide arm end disposed generally opposite the first swing guide arm end.

4. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further including padding covering the swing guide arm assembly.

5. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further including a swing indicator tassel extending from the swing guide arm.

6. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic tether attached between the golf club swing guide arm assembly and the second end of the guide arm attachment strut and a magnetic latch attached to the golf club swing guide arm assembly and the second end of the guide arm attachment strut, whereby the swing guide arm assembly remains tethered to the base when the magnetic latch is released by an errant golf swing.

7. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a weighted first leg and a weighted second leg generally normal to the first leg.

8. A golf swing training device, comprising:

a base adapted for ground placement;

a swing guide arm support assembly extending upward from the base, the swing guide arm support assembly having a first end attached to the base and a second end opposite the first end;

a golf club swing guide arm assembly pivotally attached to, and extending from, the second end of the swing guide arm support assembly, the golf club swing guide arm assembly having a swing guide arm and a swing plane arm disposed normal to the swing guide arm.

9. The golf swing training device according to claim 8, wherein the swing guide arm support assembly comprises:

a first guide arm support post having a lower end fixed to the base and an upper end opposite the lower end, the upper end extending normal to the lower end;

an intermediate strut having a first end portion fixed to the upper end of the first guide arm support post and a rotatable second end portion extending from the first end portion thereof, the intermediate strut extending parallel to the base;

a second guide arm support post attached to the second end portion of the intermediate strut, the second guide arm support post being rotatable with the intermediate strut in order to adjust the height of the a golf club swing guide arm assembly; and

a guide arm attachment strut having a first end pivotally attached to the second guide arm support post and a second end opposite the first end, the attachment strut extending normal to the second guide arm support post, said swing guide arm assembly being pivotally attached to the second end of the attachment strut, the attachment strut being pivotal in order to align the swing guide arm generally parallel to the ground and the swing plane arm at an angle with respect to the ground to correspond to a desired golf swing angle.

10. The golf swing training device according to claim 9, further comprising an elastic tether attached between the golf club swing guide arm assembly and the second end of the guide arm attachment strut and a magnetic latch attached to the golf club swing guide arm assembly and the second end of the guide arm attachment strut, whereby the swing guide arm assembly remains tethered to the base when the magnetic latch is released by an errant golf swing.

11. The golf swing training device according to claim 8, further including padding covering the swing guide arm and the swing plane arm.

12. The golf swing training device according to claim 8, further including a swing indicator tassel extending from the swing guide arm.

13. The golf swing training device according to claim 8, wherein the base comprises a weighted first leg and a weighted second leg generally normal to the first leg.

14. A golf swing training device, comprising:

a base adapted for ground mounting;

a swing guide arm support assembly extending from the base, the swing guide arm support assembly having a first end affixed to the base and an elongate attachment strut defining a second end opposite the first end;

a golf club swing guide arm assembly extending from the second end of the swing guide arm support assembly, the golf club swing guide arm assembly having at least one swing guide arm pivotally attached to, and disposed normal to, the attachment strut of the swing guide arm support assembly; and

an elastic tether attached between the golf club swing guide arm assembly and the attachment strut, whereby the swing guide arm assembly remains tethered to the base when the swing guide arm assembly is detached from the attachment strut by an errant golf swing.

15. The golf swing training device according to claim 14, wherein the swing guide arm support assembly further comprises:

a first guide arm support post having a lower end fixed to the base, and an upper end opposite the lower end, the upper end extending normal to the lower end;

an intermediate strut having a first end portion fixed to the upper end of the first guide arm support post and a rotatable second end portion extending from the first end portion thereof, the intermediate strut extending parallel to said base; and

a second guide arm support post attached to the second end portion of the intermediate strut, the second guide arm support post being rotatable with the second end portion of the intermediate strut in order to adjust the height of said swing arm assembly above the ground, said elongate attachment strut having a first end pivotally attached to the second guide arm support post and a second end opposite the first end.

16. The golf swing training device according to claim 14, wherein the golf club swing guide arm assembly has a curved first swing guide arm end and a straight second swing guide arm end disposed generally opposite the first swing guide arm end.

17. The golf swing training device according to claim 16, further including padding covering each of the swing guide arm ends.

18. The golf swing training device according to claim 16, further including a swing indicator tassel extending from the second swing guide arm end.

19. The golf swing training device according to claim 14, further comprising a magnetic latch assembly attached to said swing guide arm assembly and said attachment strut.